Page 10 of Volt
Tommy and Dutch step up so they’re standing side by side, looking for all the world like they’re going to thrash the newcomer. As big and strong as he looks, there’s no way he can handle the both of them. As flattered as I am that he’s standing up for me, I don’t want to see him get the stuffing beat out of him on my behalf.
“This ain’t your concern… whatever your name is,” Tommy spits.
“Name’s Volt,” the stranger replies.
Tommy and Dutch both laugh like it’s the funniest thing they ever heard. I can feel the tension in the room starting to build, and it sends a ripple of fear through me. The other patrons are apparently feeling it too because a few of them leave and the others retreat further into the bar, trying to stay out of way, but obviously still wanting a seat to watch the spectacle unfolding before them. Some people just seem to get off on bloodshed.
“What in the hell kind of name is Volt?” Tommy asked.
“It’s time for you two to go,” he says, his voice low and menacing.
“We ain’t goin’ anywhere,” Dutch says. “You don’t belong around here anyway so you should probably get the fuck on out of here.”
“It’s time for you two to go,” Volt repeats. “And don’t come back until you can treat her with proper respect.”
“Go fuck yourself,” Tommy spits.
Volt steps up until there are only scant inches between them. His green eyes glitter dangerously as he looks at the two men. The way he stands there, the way he holds himself, makes me think he’s been trained. Maybe he’s taken some self-defense classes, or maybe he was in the military or something, but he carries himself with a sense of self-assurance that’s undeniable. He looks like a man who has seen—and done—terrible things. He looks like a man who’s comfortable with violence.
Dutch and Tommy, on the other hand though, don’t look like much. Yeah, they’re big guys. Solid. They’re strong. But they don’t have that calm air of assurance that Volt has. They don’t hold themselves like they’re comfortable with violence. And they sure as hell don’t look like they’ve been trained in any way. For the first time, I have a flicker of doubt that they can beat him—even though there are two of them.
“Last chance. Walk out that door right now and don’t come back until you can treat her with a modicum of respect,” Volt growls.
“Or what?” Tommy asks as he puffs himself up.
“You don’t want to know,” Volt replies. “Walk away.”
Tommy throws a quick punch, obviously hoping to catch Volt off guard, only to find that the newcomer’s already three steps ahead. Volt spins to the side, easily sidestepping the wild punch. He moves quicker than seems humanly possible, but his hand snakes out and catches Tommy’s around the wrist. He pulls Tommy closer to him, savagely twisting his wrist backward. Tommy cries out as Volt bends his wrist back even further.
But he’s not done there. As Tommy’s legs seem like they’re starting to give out and he sinks lower, Volt drives his other fist into Tommy’s face. There’s a loud crack and blood spurts from Tommy’s nose. He staggers backward and claps his hands over his face. Streaks of crimson, bright and vivid, stream out from between his fingers and he lets out a low muffled moan. Volt quickly turns to Dutch who puts his hands up, palms facing him and darts back a couple of steps.
“I don’t want no trouble, man,” Dutch stammers. “We was just havin’ a little fun. We didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Get your friend and get the fuck out of here. You’re both banned from this bar from now until the end of time,” he says. “You got me?”
Dutch nods eagerly and helps get Tommy onto his feet. The man is bleeding and cursing up a storm as Dutch drags him out of the bar. When they’re gone, Volt goes outside to make sure they leave, I guess. And when he comes back in a couple of minutes later, I feel my stomach churning. Nobody has ever stood up for me like that before and although I’m sure Mary is going to find some reason to light me up about it, I have to say it’ll be worth it after seeing Dutch and Tommy get put in their place. Seeing them scrambling to get out of the bar as fast as they possibly could be well worth Mary’s inevitable ass chewing.
I laugh softly as Volt turns to look at me. “Thanks,” I say. “You didn’t have to—”
“I did,” he replies. “I don’t like the way they spoke to you. I don’t appreciate the way they degrade you.”
I shrug. “I’m pretty good at tuning that kind of garbage out.”
“But you shouldn’t have to tune it out,” he says. “That’s the point.”
I bite my bottom lip and feel my face flaring with warmth. I look down at the ground as he walks back to his seat, trying to get the emotions surging through me under control. I’ve never been a damsel-in-distress type and can usually handle myself but having somebody else step in and take up for me has me feeling a myriad of crazy emotions.
I look up and give him a smile. “Thank you… Volt. I appreciate what you did.”
“Of course,” he replies.
He intrigues me more now than before, and I suddenly find myself wanting to talk to him even more. Maybe it’s just an effect of what just happened, but my emotions are spinning out of control, and I feel drawn to him in ways I know I shouldn’t let myself be. But at the moment, I don’t care and just want to talk to him a little more.
“Let me buy you a drink,” I say.
Chapter Five
Volt
